2021 Ford Mustang Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 6 NHTSA recalls and 55 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

59/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2021 Ford Mustang

The 2021 Ford Mustang shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

6 recalls on record

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

In NHTSA complaints

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford Mustang (6)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain

An air bag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on February 3, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 22,…

NHTSA #21V980000

🔧 Air Bags: Knee Bolster

An improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger knee air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 8, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…

NHTSA #22V083000

🔧 Electrical System: Body Control Module/Bcm

Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…

NHTSA #23V727000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software

A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations…

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

NHTSA #25V442000

🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification…

NHTSA #25V455000

🔧 Electrical System: Body Control Module/Bcm

Without a low brake fluid warning light, the vehicle may be driven with low brake fluid, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…

NHTSA #25V689000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford Mustang

Based on 55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Fuel System

Power Train

Electrical System

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Service Brakes

Back Over Prevention

Suspension

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Ford Mustang — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Ford Mustang VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford Mustang

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford Mustang has 6 recall campaigns and 55 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Mustang have?

The 2021 Ford Mustang has 6 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Mustang?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford Mustang are: Fuel System, Power Train, Electrical System, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang safe to buy?

The 2021 Ford Mustang has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 6 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Ford Mustang should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Mustang are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2016.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.